Flood gate



Aug. 9, '1966 F. P. RoUssARD FLOOD GATE :5 ShetsfSheet l Filed March 12, 1963 All@ 9, i966 F. P BRQUSSARD 3,2%,82

FLOOD GATE Filed March l2, 1963 Z3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mug w66 21. P. mussmm ,249%23@ FLOOD GATE Filed March i2, 1963 5 SheeiS-Sheet 3 United States Patent O 3,264,829 FLOOD GATE Frank l. Broussard, Port Arthur, Tex., assigner to Texaco Inc., New York, N Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 264,629 3 Claims. (Cl. 6I-28) This invention concerns a flood gate in general, and more specifically deals with an improved flood gate adapted particularly for use with a tank farm levee.

In petroleum storage operations, it is usual to provide with any given tank (or in a tank farm) a levee constructed to surround the one or a group of such tanks in order to be able to contain a suicient portion of the contents of the tank or group of tanks so that an accidental overflow or tank leakage or a boil-over may be adequately contained within the surrounding levee. It will be clear that the levee employed in this manner should have some Aarrangement for drainage of accumulated water in the event of heavy rainfall or the like. However, in connection with such drainage facility there must be provided a valve, or liood gate, which can be closed in the event of an emergency so that the contents of the tank or tanks may be adequately contained within the levee. In such an arrangement, particularly with respect to petroleum tank farms, the flood gates must be so constructed that they can withstand high temperature in the event that the petroleum product being kept within the levee has become ignited.

Heretofore, in order to provide adequate flood gate structure to meet the foregoing requirements, there have been drawbacks which accompanied the structure employed, particularly with respect to the speed of operation in closing the gate. Thus, in order to provide sutiiciently rugged and heat resistant structure as required, the closing structure has been a screw thread type which is consequently quite slow in operation, particularly if manually operated.

Consequently, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved flood gate structure which is at the same time adequately rugged and positive in operation while being simple and very quick acting.

Another object of the invention is to provide llood gate structure that is adequately sturdy, and operable to provide sufficient closing force so that the closing of the gate may be carried out to obtain an adequate seal in spite of the presence of accumulated trash at the face of the valve structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flood gate structure which is manually operable from open to closed position or vice versa, in a rapid manner while at the same time there is provided structure for indicating the state of the valve in order to allow easy observation for a visual check from a substantial distance away.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple but highly effective flood gate valve which is rapidly operable from fully opened to fully closed positions manually. In addition, the structure provides for a jarring action to insure tight seal when closed or conversely to break open a tightly closed valve when stuck.

Briefly, the invention relates to a flood gate for use in a tank farm levee having a culvert therethrough. The flood gate comprises in combination a gate member having a plane face on one side thereof, and a molded headblock for mounting -at the end of said culvert through said levee. The said headblock has a passage therethrough terminating at an inclined face for cooperating with said gate member to act as a valve seat therefor. The flood gate also comprises arcuate projection means on said gate member and cam means associated with said headblock Patented August 9, M966 ice and cooperating with said projection means for causing a tight seal between said gate member and said face when the member is seated thereon.

Again briefly, the invention concerns a flood gate for use in a tank farm levee having a culvert therethrough, which comprises in combination a heavy gauge cast iron gate member having a plane face on one side thereof and a molded concrete headblock for mounting at the end of said culvert. The said headblock has a passage therethrough for being joined to said culvert, while said passage terminates at an inclined face having a plane surface for cooperating with said gate member to form a seat therefor in order to provide a valve at the end of the culvert. The ood gate also comprises a trimmed edge on the upper portion of said inclined face, and reinforcing wires adjacent thereto for avoidance of chipping and break-ing at the sharp edge of the face. The flood gate additionally comprises -a pair of arcuate projections integral with and located near two edges of said gate member, and a pair of guide angle irons attached to said inclined face on opposite sides of said passage for cooperating with said two edges of the gate member. The flood gate also comprises an inclined cam surface on each of said angle irons for being contacted by said arcuate projections to force said gate member into tight sealing relation with said inclined face when the valve is closed. In addition the flood gate comprises operating mechanism for actuating said gate member which in turn comprises a rod and a handle pivotally supported by anchor means xed relative to said headblock and culvert. The said handle is pivotally attached to one end of said rod and has a configuration such that it assumes an upstanding position when the gate member is in one of its extreme positions. The other end of said rod has stop means spaced apart thereon while the operating mechanism also comprises a lug integrally attached to said gate member having a hole therethrough for receiving said rod between said stop means to form a lost motion coupling between the rod and the gate member. The operating mechanism also comprises a second lug on said gate member having an enlarged hole thereon for guidably supporting said rod therethrough in order to support said gate member at the end of said rod with limited freedom of relative motion therebetween to allow for angular change in the rod relat-ive to the gate member from open to closed positions.

The foregoing and other objects and benets of the invention will be set forth in greater detail in connection with a specific illustrative embodiment which is described below, and which is illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a longitudinal side view partly in cross section, illustrating an assembly of the complete structure according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken along the lines 2 2 of FIGURE l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged longitudinal cross section view of the headblock and gate member elements, which make up the ood gate valve structure according to the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a plan View taken along the lines 4 4 of FIGURE 3 looking in the direction of the arrows and partially broken away in cross section to show hidden structure;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail side View, partially broken away in cross section and illustrating the details of one guide and the anchoring structure therefor;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view taken parallel to the sloping face of the headblock like FIGURE 4 and illustrating the gate valve in its open position;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along the lines '7-7 of FIGURE 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged perspective showing the gate structure per se; and

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged perspective illustrating one of the guide angle irons and showing the cam surface structure thereof.

Referring to FIGURE 1, it is pointed out that there is illustrated a culvert 11 which has attached to the open end thereof, a molded concrete headblock 12 that may have been set in place on a poured concrete slab iiooring 13, with a tight seal of grout 14 having been poured in through a hole 24 (FIGURE 3). However, it may be quite satisfactory to provide a good clay base, and the headblock 12 would be then set in place thereon with the final position being made true without any grouting 14 being required. In this latter case, the hole 24 may be eliminated.

It is usual to build the levee by scooping some of the ground within the area to be enclosed. Consequently, the ground level will be above the level of the culvert 11, as is indicated at the left hand side of FIGURE l. Where possible the culvert will be set to drain away from the enclosure so as to carry away all accumulation of rain water and the like. However, in any event there is a levee wall 18 that covers the culvert 11, sloping up from the open end of the culvert where the headblock 12 is attached; and a connection between headblock 12 and the culvert 11 is secured by grouting, as indicated in FIGURE 3 where there is shown a filler of concrete 15.

The structure of the Hood gate elements will first be described by themselves, and then the structure of the actuating mechanism `and its relationship to the flood gate per se will be set forth. Thus, referring to FIGURES 1 and 3-9, it will be noted that the headblock 12 is made up of a heavy, preferably precast concrete structure. It includes a slightly tapered passageway 21 extending longitudinally therethrough and terminating at an inclined face 22. The inside end of passage 21 connects with an enlarged opening 23 to receive the end of the culvert 11. The headblock 12 and culvert 11 are securely connected in a fluid tight manner by a grouted connection (FIG- URE 3). It will also be observed in FIGURE 3 that there may be a grouting filler hole 24 (mentioned above) extending downward centrally from the bottom of the passageway 21.

In order to provide for the avoidance of chipping or breakageat the sharp angled edge on the upper portion of passageway 21 where it joins the face 22 of the headblock, there is a trimmed edge 27 that has a maximum width at the top of the elliptical opening of passageway 21 and tapers off to zero at about a third of the way down toward the bottom of the opening on each side. It will be noted also that it is desirable to include in the casting of headblock 12, three reinforcing wires Z8 (FIGURES 3, 4 and 6) extending transversely of the headblock near the edge of the passageway 21 and generally adjacent to the trimmed edge 27.

The gate element is preferably constructed of cast iron, and is made up of a gate member 31 that has a plane face V32 (FIGURE 7) which should be smooth and substantially true. Thus, the casting may need to be ground as a finishing operation. On the back, or opposite side from face 32 of the gate member 31 there is a pair of arcuate projections 33 and 34, which are preferably integrally formed with the casting of the gate member and which are located at or near the longitudinal edges of the gate member. Extending between these arcuate projections 33 and 34, there is a pair of lugs or webs 35 and 36 which extend transversely between the arcuate members and which have longitudinally connecting strengthening ribs 37 and 38 therebetween. Centrally located on each of the lugs 35 and 36 there is an elliptical hole 39 and 40 respectively. As will appear below, the purpose of these holes 39 and 40 is to receive an operating rod with related elements for actuating the gate member inthe opening and closing action of the valve.

Gate member 31 is guided and held in place against the face 22 of the headblock 12 by a pair of guides 43 and 44 which are fastened in place on either side of the open end of passageway 21. Thus, the guides 43 and 44 are fastened to the face 22 by being bolted down in any convenient manner, e.g. by means of providing sockets 47 that are cast in place in the headblock 12. These sockets 47 are carefully set so as to be accurately aligned with drilled holes 46 (see FIGURE 9) through he guides 43 and 44 to receive bolts 48 as illustrated.

It will be observed with reference to FIGURE 9 by way of example, where the guide 43 is illustrated, that each of the guides 43 and 44 is constructed in the form of an elongated angle iron having a liange 51 which has the holes 46 (to receive the bolts 48) drilled therethrough. There is a vertical web portion 52 that joins the liange 51 to an upper horizontal flange 53. Flange 53 extends over the edges of the gate member 31 (when the guides are in place on the headblock) far enough to overlap the arcuate projections 33 and 34 completely. It will also be noted that at the lower end (when mounted as illustrated in the drawings) of each of the guides 43 and 44 there is a cam surface 54 that slopes down toward the face 22 of the headblock 12 and provides for a tight closing action as the arcuate projections 33 and 34 come in contact therewith.

The operating mechanism for actuating gate member 31, includes a rod 57 that is attached to the gate 31 with a lost motion coupling arrangement. This coupling is made by having the somewhat enlarged elliptical holes 39 and 40 centrally located in earch of the lugs 35 and 36 respectively. The nod 57 passes through holes 39 and 40 near the end of the rod 57 and there aire stop means attached to the Dod 57 for completing the lost motion coupling. These stop means might take various forms, but are preferably -a pair of nuts 62 land 63 which are screwed onto a threaded end 61 of rod 57, and are located spaced apart something less than the separation between lugs 35 and 36. In this manner the amount of lost motion between rod 57 and corresponding sliding or translation movement of the gate 31 may be determined by the separation between the nuts 62 and 63. It is this lost motion coupling arrangement which provides for a jarring action as the gate is opened or closed. The rod 57 m-ay move freely in a longitudinal direction between the contacting of lug 35 by each of the nuts 62 and 63 depending upon which direction the rod is moved.

At the other end of rod 57 from its attachment to the gate memlber 31, there is a pivotal coupling between rod 57 and a handle 64. Such pivotal coupling may be -any convenient structure, e.g. .by having an eye 65 formed on the end of the rod 57 to accept a pin or bolt 66 therethrough that is inserted transversely between a pair of webs 67 that are firmly -attached as by Welding, to the handle 64.

Handle 64 is shaped with a bend at the place where rod 57 is pivotally attached thereto, and the confined end of the handle is in turn pivotally fastened to anchor means which include a pair of upright supports 70 and 71 that are securely anchored into the ground. These supports are appropriately located on the side of the levee y18 by being sunk into concrete footings 72 and 73 respectively, after having been driven into the -ground on either side of fthe culvert 11 (see FIGURE 2). The pivotal coupling between the confined end of handle 64 and anchor supports 70 tand 71, is carried out by having a cross support rod or pipe 74 fastened to the supports 70 and 71 by any convenient means such as by providing end plates 77 and 78 welded on the ends lof pipe 74. Then a secure attachment is made by U-bolting the end plates 77 and 78 to the support pipes 70 and 71. The pivot connection may be had by attaching a T coupling 79 to the end of the handle 64. Then the handle is mounted so that the T or cross pipe of coupling 79 surrounds the cross rod or pipe 74 to allow freely pivotal movement of the handle 64.

The dimensions and configuration of the handle 64 and its icoupling to the trod 57 are such that good leverage is available in applying translation forces to the rod and thereby to the movement of the gate member 31. The lever action is about a fulcrurn 80 (FIGURE l) which is the center of the pivot about which the handle 64 rotates.

It will be observed that it may be helpful to provide a build-up of soil or other material, as shown in FIG- URE 1 by the extra material or mound 82 that is built up on the slope of the levee 18. This build-up is to provide a raised ffooting for the operator so that easy access may be had to the handle 64 when in its upstanding position, i.e. when the valve is closed.

Operation A brief review of the operation olf the flo-od gate according to this invention will provide an indication of the cooperative action involved in the various working parts thereof. Referring particularly to FIGURE 1, it is pointed out that the flood gate valve structure is illustrated in full lines with the valve in its closed position. Thus, the gate member 31 has been moved by sliding downwardly within the guide means 43 and 44 until arcuate projections 33 and 34 (see other figures) have contacted the sloping Icam surfaces 54 and thus have forced gate member 31 down against the sloping face 22 of the headblock 12.

As the gate is to be opened, handle 64 will (be pivoted clockwise (as viewed in FIGURE l) and as soon as this movement of handle 64 has lcaused the rod 57 to move to the point where the lower nut 62 has contacted lng 35, [further movement of the handle will lcommence causing the gate member 31 to slide upwardly in opening movement within the guiding confinement of the guides 43 and 44.

In the fully open position which is illustrated in broken lines in FIGURE l, the rod 57 will be angled somewhat from its starting position (valve closed). Hlowever, the gate member 31 may tip when in the upper position thereof t-o accommodate the angle, as indicated in the broken line showing. The various dimensions provide for this action since the lower most edges (las viewed in most of the figures of drawing) of the gate member ane relatively thin compared to the distance from the `face 22 to the underside of the flanges 53 olf the guides. I n addition, there is some play allowed for between the rod 57 and the lugs 35 and 36 through which it passes, by reason of the elliptical configuration of the holes 39 and 40.

It will be observed that the condition of the g-ate valve, i.e. whether open or closed, may be readily ascertained by reason of the configuration of handle 64 which allows it to be positioned down close to the surface of the levee when the valve is open while having it stand quite straight up when the valve is in the closed position.

The jarring action mentioned above with respect to opening or closing the valve is provided by the lost miotion coupling which has been described labove. This acts between the lower end of the rod 57 and the gate member 31 of the valve. Thus, should the valve be stuck closed, it may be readily opened by the dynamic tiorces involved in moving the lhandle and the rod 57 fnom the lower most position (when the upper nut 63 is in contact with the lug 35) quickly and forcibly to the upper position (when nut 62 comes in contact with the lug 35). Conversely, in closing the valve when a tight seal is required and even if some obstruction to closing exists, the effect of a jarring action or dynamic closing force may be provided by the movement so as to forcibly contact lug 35 by the npper nut 63 on the rod 57. This action will thus drive the gate member 31 downward within its guides 43 and 44 by oncing the arcuate projections 33 and 34 against the inclined cam surfaces 54 until a tight closed position is reached that will place the plane face 32 of the gate member 31 snugly against the sloping face portion 22 of the headblock 12.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been disclosed above in considerable detail in accordance with the applicable statutes, this is not to be taken as in any way limiting the invention but merely as being descriptive thereof.

I claim:

1. A flood gate for use in a tank far-m levee having a culvert therethrough, comprising in combination a gate member having a plane face on one side thereof, Ia moulded headblock for cooperating with said gate member and adapted for mounting at the end of said culvert through said levee, said headblock having a passage therethrough for connecting to the end of said culvert and terminating at an inclined face, said inclined face being inclined at about forty-five degrees and 4being plane for cooper-ating with said gate member to act as a valve seat therefor, arcuate projection means on said gate member, cam means associated with said headblock and cooperating with said projection means for causing a tight seal between said gate member and said face when the member is seated thereon, and operating mechanism for actuating said gate member, said operating mechanism comprising a rod, lever means for actuating said rod in longitudinal translation, and lost motion means for coupling said rod to said gate member to apply jarring force in opening or closing the flood gate valve, said lost motion means comprising a lug on said gate member having a hole therethrough receiving said rod therein, and stop means spaced apart on said rod for cont-acting said lug to apply said jarring force.

2. A flood gate according to claim 1 wherein said operating mechanism further comprises anchor means for pivotally supporting said lever means, said lever means comprising a handle having said rod pivotally `attached thereto, said handle having a configuration such that it assumes an upstanding position when the gate member is in one of its extreme positions.

3. A flood gate for use in a tank farm levee having a culvert therethrough, comprising in combination a heavy gauge cast iron gate member having a plane face on one side thereof, a moulded concrete headblock adapted for mounting at the end of said culvert, said headblock having a passage therethrough f-or being joined to said culvert, an inclined face on said headblock, said face having a plane surface for cooperating with said gate member to form a seat therefor in order to provide a valve at the end of the culvert, a trimmed edge on the upper portion of said inclined face and reinforcing wires adjacent thereto for avoidance of chipping and breaking at the sharp edge of the face, a pair of arcuate projections integral with and located near two edges of said gate member, a pair of guide angle irons attached to said inclined face on opposite sides of said passage for cooperating with said two edges of the gate member, an inclined cam surface on each of said angle irons being inclined downwardly toward said face for being contacted by said arcuate projections to force said gate member into tight sealing relations with said inclined face when the valve is closed, and operating mechanism for actuating said gate member comprising a rod, a handle for actuating said rod said handle being pivotally supported by anchor means xed relative to said headblock and culvert, said handle being pivotally attached to one end of said rod and having a configuration such that it assumes an upstanding position when the gate member is in one of its extreme positions, the other end of said rod having stop means spaced apart thereon, a lug integrally attached to said gate member having a hole therethrough receiving said lrod between said stop means in order to form a lost motion coupling Ibetween the rod and the gate member, and a second lug on said gate member havin-g an elongated 8 4/ 1923 Schuster 61-28 3/ 1926 Bright 61-22 11/ 1929 Sanders 61--28 FOREIGN PATENTS 9/ 1951 France. 4/ 195 3 France. 7/ 1953 Germany. 3/ 1934 Italy.

EARL J. WITMER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FLOOD GATE FOR USE IN A TANK FARM LEVEE HAVING A CULVERT THERETHROUGH, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A GATE MEMBER HAVING A PLANE FACE ON ONE SIDE THEREOF, A MODULDED HEADBLOCK FOR COOPERATING WITH SAID GATE MEMBER AND ADAPTED FOR MOUNTING AT THE END OF SAID CULVERT THROUGH SAID LEVEE, SAID HEADBLOCK HAVING A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH FOR CONNECTING TO THE END OF SAID CULVERT AND TERMINATING AT AN INCLINED FACE, SAID INCLINED FACE BEING INCLINED AT ABOUT FORTY-FIVE DEGREES AND BEING PLANE FOR COOPERATING WITH SAID GATE MEMBER TO ACT AS A VALVE SEAT THEREFOR, ARCUATE PROJECTION MEANS ON SAID GATE MEMBER, CAM MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID HEADBLOCK AND COOPERATING WITH SAID PROJECTION MEANS FOR CAUSING A TIGHT SEAL BETWEEN SAID GATE MEMBER AND SAID FACE WHEN THE MEMBER IS SEATED THEREON, AND OPERATING MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING SAID GATE MEMBER, SAID OPERATING MECHANISM COMPRISING A ROD, LEVER MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID ROD IN LONGITUDINAL TRANSLATION, AND LOST MOTION MEANS FOR COUPLING SAID ROD TO SAID GATE MEMBER TO APPLY JARRING FORCE IN OPENING OR CLOSING THE FLOOD GATE VALVE, SAID LOST MOTION MEANS COMPRISING A LUG ON SAID GATE MEMBER HAVING A HOLE THERETHROUGH RECEIVING SAID ROD THEREIN, AND STOP MEANS SPACED APART ON SAID ROD FOR CONTACTING SAID LUG TO APPLY SAID JARRING FORCE. 